A powerful earthquake in north-west Turkey has caused significant destruction in Balikesir province, claiming one life and injuring dozens. Recovery efforts are underway as the nation braces itself for the aftermath of this latest seismic event.
Deadly Earthquake Strikes Turkey's Balikesir Province, One Fatality Reported
Deadly Earthquake Strikes Turkey's Balikesir Province, One Fatality Reported
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake hit Balikesir province, resulting in one death and multiple buildings collapsing.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the north-west province of Balikesir, Turkey, on Sunday evening, resulting in a tragic fatality and extensive damage across the region. An 81-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries shortly after being rescued from the debris in Sindirgi, which was identified as the epicenter of the earthquake, according to comments from Turkey's Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya.
The earthquake, which occurred at approximately 19:53 local time (16:53 GMT), caused the collapse of 16 buildings and left at least 29 individuals injured. The tremors were felt as far away as Istanbul, prompting an immediate response from emergency services. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences and emphasized the importance of swift recovery efforts, assuring that these would be closely monitored.
As search and rescue operations wrapped up, authorities confirmed there were no additional indications of serious injuries or damages beyond those initially reported. However, visual evidence from Sindirgi depicted devastating scenes of destruction, with large structures reduced to rubble and heaps of mangled metal scattered across the landscape.
Turkey's geographical position, lying at the convergence of three significant tectonic plates, has rendered the country vulnerable to regular seismic events. This recent earthquake comes less than a year after a catastrophic 7.8 magnitude quake in February 2023, which resulted in the loss of over 50,000 lives in southern Turkey and an additional 5,000 in neighboring Syria. Even now, hundreds of thousands of people remain displaced due to that disaster, highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by Turkey's unpredictable geological activity.
